Casey Beyer steps down as CEO of the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce, the owners of local chocolatier Mackenzies are retiring, Small Business Saturday hits this weekend and how you can own the old downtown trolley – find all that and more in this week’s local business roundup from Jessica M. Pasko.
Santa Cruz County business roundup
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Forever 21 closing; comic store calls for community help
In her weekly roundup, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the closing date for Forever 21 on a busy Pacific Avenue corner, desperate times for Front Street’s Comicopolis and more news, notes and numbers from Santa Cruz County business.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Surf wax company wins Demo Day, new record store opens
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a surf wax company that won a local entrepreneurship competition, a new record store opening downtown and a Cabrillo College scholarship program being boosted by Comcast.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Filling the old Logos building, hotel rates and a Westside rebrand
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the struggle to find a new retail tenant for the former Logos Bookstore space in downtown Santa Cruz, a fall decline in hotel business and Wi-Fi coming to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Brew Cruz bids adieu; city seeks retail tenant
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the closure of popular brewery tour business Brew Cruz and on the City of Santa Cruz’s search for a tenant for a new retail/restaurant space at 822 Pacific Ave.
Brew Cruz hits brakes after decade of Santa Cruz County craft brewing tours
After 10 years and close to 2,000 tours, popular brewery tour business Brew Cruz is shutting down, with owner Annie Wolff Pautsch putting the familiar bus known as Betty Jane on the market.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Joby positioned for NYC air taxi service
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a key step being taken ahead of Joby Aviation’s plans to operate an air taxi service in New York next year, along with New Leaf Community Markets opening a new store in Capitola and Santa Cruz Works seeking nominees for local business leadership awards.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: An El Pajaro CDC milestone and Harts Fabric on the move
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on the legacy of successful food and other small businesses that have been developed in El Pajaro Community Development Corporation’s 45 years. Harts Fabric is moving to a new Seabright location, and Terra & Self is closing its Santa Cruz store to go online-only.
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Tourism’s hot summer; Joby’s air taxi gets $500M more from Toyota
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a strong summer for local tourism, thanks in part to high temperatures inland. Toyota is investing big in Joby Aviation’s air taxi, and local firm Parallel Flight Technologies has landed a Department of Defense program grant.
High temps drove strong summer Santa Cruz tourism season
High temperatures drove growth in tourism for Santa Cruz County this summer, as inland California residents fled to the coast.

